The Ministry of Information and the Ghana Health Service have completed a one-day Covid-19 sensitization workshop for the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.

The workshop was chaired by His Royal Majesty, Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the president of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.

In his opening remarks, Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin on behalf of his chiefs thanked President Akufo-Addo for his leadership in the management of Covid-19 and the measures put in place to slow down the spread of Covid-19 in Ghana.

Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin recounted some of the mitigating measures put in place by the government by way of the Covid-19 alleviation package which includes the initial preparatory allocation of $100 million; provision of fifty per cent (50%) basic salary for frontline health workers for six months; wavier of income tax for six months; free electricity; free water and a financial stimulus package for medium and small-scale enterprises among others.

In addition, Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin remarked that the pandemic has brought about the new normal which has affected how we live and conduct social gatherings such as funerals and religious activities.

“Today we all have to wear a face mask every day, practice social distancing and good hand hygiene at all times” he noted

Osagyefo promised to lead public education on the pandemic in the Eastern Region and encouraged his colleagues to replicate this in their various domains in order to promote community compliance with the safety protocols.   

The Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Eric Kwakye Darfour noted that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused suffering among the populace and has challenged the customs of society.

He said the government’s new strategy is to enhance greater community participation to deepen awareness on how to maintain adherence to Covid-19 safety protocols.

The workshop was led by the Director of Health Promotion at the Ghana Health Service and Leader of Risk Communication and Social Mobilization for Ghana's Covid-19 Response Team, Dr Da Costa Aboagye.

His presentation focused on Covid-19 preventive protocols, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), stigmatization, health promotion, and prevention.

He said although Ghana's fight against the pandemic has been impressive, it is important to sustain the gains by maintaining adherence to the safety protocols.

Dr Da Costa was concerned that non-compliance to these protocols could cause an upsurge of infections in the country.

“The wearing of a mask is reducing by day, social distancing is not being strictly followed, and the frequency of handwashing has also reduced significantly. This picture gives as a cause for worry”.

He, therefore, charged the Chiefs and Queen mothers to educate their subjects on Covid-19 and increase public awareness on the importance of the use of facemasks.

Touching on stigma, Dr. Da Costa said: “The current Covid-19 outbreak has provoked social stigma and discriminatory behaviours against infected persons, communities, families, etc. and the impact is that it will essentially drive people to hide the disease to avoid discrimination, prevent people from seeking healthcare early, discourage healthy behaviours and affect the mental health of infected people.”

Dr. Da Costa urged the chiefs and opinion leaders to do their part through all forms of engagement with various groups in their localities on Covid-19 preventive measures through community-based education.

Speaking to an Accra-based radio station, Dr. Dacosta said Government will focus on a health promotion and prevention program dubbed 'The Wellness Program' as a method for early detection of diseases with the aim of institutionalizing 'prevention is better than cure’ in our health system to support curative healthcare delivery.

Dr. Da Costa said the programme will provide a platform for every Ghanaian to check their health status at least once a year.

This program will also help profile Ghanaians for the early detection of diseases and will also help to reduce the high disease burden cost of NHIS.

The media was urged to "help educate and encourage Ghanaians to do regular exercise; to eat local foods as well as eat more fruits and vegetables, have enough rest, and avoid stress".

Leading the Ministry of Information delegation was the Deputy Minister for Information Hon. Pius Enam Hadzide and in his address requested the revered chiefs to lead the rollout of the community engagement and risk education strategy to deepen awareness of Covid-19 in sustaining the safety protocols.

He extended government's appreciation on the partnership with traditional authorities in the national development agenda, particularly their support in the enforcement of the restrictions that were imposed during the lockdown period.

Hon. Pius Enam Hadzide intimated that the government’s strategy was anchored on 5 main pillars.

• Limit importation of Covid-19 Cases
• Contain community spread to the barest  minimum
• Provide optimum care for affected persons
• Limit the impact of Covid-19 on the socioeconomic life of Ghanaians
• Deepen our self-reliance and increase  production capacity

He said measures deployed by the government to fight the virus were necessary for the interest of public health.

He intimated that “the rate of recoveries has increased tremendously, as 29^th September 2020 confirmed cases were 46,482 with a total of 45,651 recoveries making 98% recovery rate. Active cases were 530 and 301 deaths.

“Around the world, it appears there is a second wave so we must continue to strengthen our country's response to Covid-19 pandemic to minimize the risk and negative impact posed by the disease”. He argued.

In his concluding remarks, the Deputy Minister for Information Hon. Pius Enam Hadzide noted that “despite the success in the recovery rate we need to guard against further community spread by strictly adhering to the safety protocols”. He thanked the chiefs for their instrumental role in the fight against Covid-19.